Thursday is here and there.
Wow… has it really been two weeks since my last update? Sorry, guys! Life has just taken over lately (okay, always), what with full-time work, out-of-town guests, and a dozen half-finished projects. Last weekend I went to four dinner parties in a row! It’s been fun, but exhausting.
This week is not slowing down at all… my college roommate is crashing for a few days, I have to nanny every day, my family has three weddings to photograph, and my sister and I are going to two concerts. Sometimes I think my whole family goes overboard when it comes to filling up our schedules, but on the plus side, there is never a dull moment!
Even though this is three weeks overdue, I thought I’d share a couple brief book recommendations. With the downtime my job sometimes provides, I’ve managed to get in quite a lot of reading this month.
Fiction - The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister. If you’re in need of a light, fluffy read (or just really, really hungry), this novel is perfect for a long afternoon. Set in the fragrant kitchen of a quaint restaurant, eight students of all sizes and ages learn how to cook, to laugh, and to love. Each chapter highlights a different character, from Lillian, the child prodigy and instructor, to Chloe, a clumsy waitress, and Tom, a grieving, bittersweet widower. The stories are not particularly compelling, but the novel is beautifully written and worth the read.
Nonfiction - Cold Tangerines by Shauna Niequist. If you’re in the mood for another feel-good book, this one’s for you. Shauna, a graduate from my very own Westmont College, compiles snippets of stories and lessons learned over the years. She delves into the heartbreak of young teenage girls and surfaces with reminders of God’s faithfulness in difficult situations. I appreciated how she doesn’t shy away from the pain life has to offer, but emphasizes the importance of redemption, perseverance, and joy through everything.
Hope you all are enjoying the last few weeks of summer!
DFTBA,
Ashley
